Facade

Chapter 4 Who's back?

Ethan knows my schedule, since he's by stander in my condo, he has a copy of my schedule, he said he's doing this because he's worried. He always texted me kapag susunduin niya ako or pag malelate siya. Ping! Right speaking of the devil, he just sent a sent text.

You done?

A minute or so.

Okay, you're in LCI right? I'm here in the parking lot, I'll wait for you.

Yep I'm in the Lopez' Company, well I'm organizing the 80th anniversary, so I'm kind of busy these days, and the project regarding Alexis, Raf suggest that he will supervised it para daw hindi ko na kailangan I meet si Alex and they just started the operation. Maybe it's for the better.

Ping! This why I sometimes hate Ethan, I cannot work over time dahil over protective siya.

You're taking so long

Coming.

So before he goes upstairs bumaba na ako. And I easily spotted his black BMW.

What do you want for dinner? I'll cook tonight He asked me as I fastening my seat belt.

Wow! The great Ethan Monteiro is going to cook me a dinner huh?. I said amaze by the turn of event but he didn't badge. Wait you serious? I asked still can't believe.

Yep, you see I just realize that I should be really good to you, malay mo ma fall ka na talaga sa akin. Then he gave his famous grin.

A huh? Try me. I mirror his grin. So what do you like? He replied while maneuvering the wheel. Well, impress me. I said while grinning at him Okay!

25 minutes later nakarating na kami sa condo,he didn't wait for me to press the password, he did it himself, dumbfounded I stayed a little while in the door, bakit pa nga ba ako magugulat, he and V really know me that much huh?

Dumiretso siya sa Kitchen, while I go straight in my room to change. Wait I have run out of groceries pano siya magluluto?

Tan? I shout, still looking for clothes. Yep?... How can you cook, I have no groceries! I said Don't worry nag grocery ako kanina bago pumunta sa LCI dumaan ako dito. What? You did? I ask, surprise Yep!

I just roll my eyes. I suddenly thought of Vivian, ganto din kami, she cooks while I change then ako naman mag huhugas ng plates siya din nag gro-grocery well we pretty do everything together for five years. V, where have you been na ba kasi? Hays.

After a minute lumabas na ako ng kwarto wearing my oversized shirt and a pair of silky short. As I make my way into the kitchen I saw Ethan leaning in the table watching me as I make my way then pinilig niya ang kanyang ulo while grinning.

I'm sure he's making fun of me in his mind... what? Got a problem with my clothes mate? He just laughs. Tsk I knew it.

You see I've been thinking if V is here I' sure she is already scolding you for accepting the contract with Alex. After what he said the atmosphere become thick like something forbidden have been revealed. Yeah I know...If she is here... but she is not and I think she got fed up with me already that's why she left me too.

I think malapit ng maluto etong niluluto ko, what if you set up the table, while I wrap this up and kain na tayo pag tapos.

Uh... haha okay. As I make my way into the kitchen ware, suddenly I hear someone pressing my password. And I think Ethan hear it too, he suddenly put his protective stance and make me hide under the table, and then suddenly like movie playing in a slow motion a petite, long hair dressed in an elegant black halter dress materialize in the view.

As the reality dawned on me, I run into her and examine her like something I cannot fathom. VIVIAN! O my God! where have you been, are you okay? What about that jackass did he hurt you? She just gave me big smile and put 2 fingers up like a sign of peace. Urgh! V! don't put a stance like that again, then I hug her a short later Ethan mumble under his breath Girls! Then he joins the hug.

So what did I miss? And Ethan why in the world are wearing a floral apron did your gender alter? Then namula si Ethan haha how I miss this.

And wait what is that smell? Is that paella, Ethan, perhaps are you cooking Solitta's a dinner? Ethan just smile then shrug, pumunta siya sa niluluto ni Ethan then shriek OMG Sol you find yourself a cook, but I'm not going to give anything away so I just put my bitch face then she winces upon seeing my expression.

Spill V! hindi mo ko madadaan diyan sa pa cute mo. Then she sighs and sit between me and Ethan.

Well its complicated, but I just give her I-don't-care-how-complicated-it is-just-spill look you see mom don't like Azul and my brother swear to kill Ysmael if they see him near me again after what happen, then – wait I interrupt her whose who? Are you saying there has been 2 man in your life without us knowing? Ethan nod and then she laughs.

No Sol actually Ysmael's nickname is Azul then I nod urging her to continue then the night that we're supposed to meet but I didn't show up yeah I remember that, were supposed to go to club that night but she stood me up

well I kinda meet Azul that night in the parking lot and namula ang bruha, well you see Azul and I ahm were really not in good term for the last weeks before that and I always avoided him, but you see that night ahm he seems restless so I give him a minute to talk but before he could talk may nag paputok ng baril then horror struck me O my God she could have die that night. That Asshole if I see him I'm gonna kill him. Then because the situation is dire I just end up running away with him.

And she looks at me waiting for response, well Ethan is quiet wait but why the hell did you not phone me about what happen? And how the hell are you both not okay that night when the very morning of that day you just declare in my face how you want to be with that fucking bastard? She winces with my remarks.

Well I cannot risk to be traced our whereabouts I cannot guarantee that my phone is not bug. And well I kind a want to ask for justification about my decision to forgive him and I got a justification when you swear when you say how can I trust Azul and it hit me, I love him that's what matter. A long silence filled the room, nagppakaramdaman kung sino mag sasalita. Ethan is just quiet; V is fidgeting in her sit.

Are you okay now? I mean is it safe for you to come out now? Relief flush in her face. Well yeah, but Azul ahm he gives me a bodyguard just to make sure and she's in the parking lot. A Lady bodyguard huh! Seems like that blue guy has a trust problem. I smirk, V give me questioning look and Ethan looked at me and I think he understand what I'm thinking, how come she let you go here without her with you? Well hinatid niya ako hanggang jan sa pinto but I ask her if she can give me a private time with my friend. And pabaya naman ng bodyguard na yon what if hindi kami ni Tan-tan ang nasa loob? She did not even escort you inside.

Well just I give her a deal na bigyan niya lang ako ng baril in case of emergency, so she did and that settles it.

I may seem dumbstruck how V talk about the gun casually but I just nodded.

I have a lot of question but I don't want to ask more of what she gives us, well I trust V I know she knows what's she doing.

I'm about to speak when Ethan suddenly speak how the hell did your love story become some sort of action? Ethan ask bewildered then we both laugh good thing romance is far from my reach I cannot imagine I'll do that sort of thing.

Well ladies it's a good thing I cooked a really good paella, since V's love life drained all of us. Then we laugh with his remarks that night the evening seems lighter and somehow I forget the burden I've been carrying. We spend the rest of night reminiscing, laughing with the beer in our hand sitting in the couch looking in city light through the glass wall. It's good thing that V is back at least everything seems lighter now.

¤*l